Germany is one of the major supporters of Ukraine, but the country is reluctant to hand over powerful weapons.
Maria Stenroos,
Anne Orjala
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will visit Finland today, Friday, and meet the Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen (collect.).
At the ministers’ joint press conference in the morning, Häkkänen praised Germany’s support for Finland during the NATO process.
He stated that Russia is a long-term threat to European countries and that Ukraine should be supported more. He stressed, among other things, the strengthening of the European defense industry.
– Action is needed now: money, ammunition, weapons, growing the European defense industry.
The ministers have already inspected the company of honor and will also visit the civilian shelter, among other things.
“That’s the reason Taurus hasn’t been sent yet”
Germany is one of Ukraine’s big supporters. It is the second largest provider of arms aid by volume, after the United States. In relation, the support is in the same category as that provided by Finland.
Pistorius recalled this at the press conference.
However, Germany has been accused of delay in providing weapons. The country fears that it will irritate Russia if it hands over too powerful weapons to Ukraine. It is especially about handing over the Taurus missiles. With them, Ukraine could strike across the front line, for example in Crimea.
– We always emphasize that long-range missiles will not solve the war, Pistorius said.
He added that Germany does not want to be a party to the war.
– That’s the reason why Taurus hasn’t been sent yet.
Last week, Germany found itself in the middle of a spying scandal when the German armed forces’ discussion about the possible use of Taurus missiles in Ukraine ended up in the Russian media.
Before that, Chancellor of Germany Scholz hinted to the media, that Britain and France are helping Ukraine in targeting missiles in Ukraine.
Häkkänen reminded that Russia also plays a publicity game.
Pistorius emphasized the importance of Finland’s eastern border
Russia has implemented instrumented immigration on Finland’s eastern border. At the press conference, Pistorius stressed the importance of Finland’s eastern border.
It is also NATO’s eastern border now, he stated.
Häkkänen, on the other hand, reminded that the legislation is being tightened.
* The news is updated.